When You Are Being Charged on Both Civil and Criminal Levels

How do you dictate whether you are being charged on a civil and criminal level? What if you have been accused of a crime and now you have many charges against you as you defend yourself from civil and criminal penalties. Criminal cases are usually handled by the state, while civil cases are handled by individuals who believe that they are entitled to damages based on the harm caused by the crime. As you can see, these tend to go hand in hand. However, there are many differences between the two.

The Many Differences

Civil and criminal cases are very different from one another in the ways that they are handled and the punishments that result. Usually, criminal charges will lead to time in prison, while civil cases could result in monetary damages, especially when your case has led to injuries and other damages.

There is a much different standard of proof meant to dictate criminal cases. Crimes are proved beyond a “reasonable doubt,” while civil cases are held at lower standards. The punishments for civil cases tends to be less severe than crimes.

Defendants in criminal cases are entitled to attorneys, while those in civil cases are not.

You will find that the consequences in criminal cases tend to be much higher, which means that you could spend time in jail and pay fines. This is why you also have more protections in criminal cases than you do in civil cases, because your life could be on the line depending on the severity.

Here is an example: You have been accused of assault because you punched somebody and it led to damages, such as serious injuries. In one of these cases, you could be charged on a criminal level as well as a civil level and have to pay for the damages if the party decides to bring a claim against you. As you can see, there are many cases that could bring both criminal and civil suits in their wake.

No matter what, it is imperative to have an attorney on your side to help you every step of the way when you have been accused of a crime. You can see that the penalties can be severe in either case, which is why we are here for you. Call us today at the Law Office of Peter Blair for more information.